Drug and alcohol addiction is rampant in Australia. It is at the point where one in six Australians is struggling with a drug addiction, while one in ten suffers from alcohol addiction. This equals more than two million people in one country addicted to either alcohol or drugs.
If you are part of these statistics, all is not lost. Drug and alcohol counselling allows you to turn things around. However, before you can benefit from this process, you must gather all your courage and be willing to face the fight head-on.
This means being brutally honest about your relationship with either drugs or alcohol. If you continue pretending you do not have a problem, you will not get the insight you need to get sober.
The counselling process starts with you asking yourself the following important questions.
How Much Have I Been Drinking, or How Many Drugs Have I Used?
Shying away from the truth about your addiction is not going to help you. You must be honest with yourself and your loved ones about the extent of your substance abuse.
Ask yourself:
- How many days per week do I drink or use drugs?
- How much do I drink per day, or how many drugs do I use in one day?
- Do I drink or take drugs more during certain times or in specific situations?
If you have decided to be honest with yourself, start keeping a journal about your substance usage. This information will help your counsellor create the best personalized plan when you go for counselling and therapy.
Why Do I Drink or Use Drugs?
This is not an easy question to answer. You have to be even more honest with yourself when you do. There may be one or several reasons you turn to alcohol or drugs. For instance:
- Do you use drugs or alcohol to cope with stress and anxiety?
- Do you drink or take drugs to feel better or more confident around other people?
- Do you think your drug or alcohol use is a habit? Do you crave it even when you are trying to cut down?
- Have you experienced trauma or life changes that have motivated you to drink more or use more drugs?
It is critical to be honest about your reasons for using drugs or alcohol. Ultimately, this is what will help you work with your counsellor to find the root causes of your addiction.
How Is My Addiction Affecting My Life?
If you have been addicted to alcohol or drugs for a long time, there is a very high chance that your life is negatively affected. Ask yourself:
- Am I getting sick because of my drug or alcohol habit? Has my doctor seen worrying signs of liver problems or cognitive decline? Do I have increasingly serious mental health symptoms of anxiety or depression?
- Am I shutting out my loved ones because of my drinking or drug habit? Have they asked me over and over again what was wrong, and I continue to argue with them and ignore them?
- Have I missed too much work or school? Is there a chance that I will face disciplinary action because of it?
- Do I spend more money on drugs or alcohol than I can realistically afford? Is my family or dependants suffering because of it?
Acknowledging the negative effects of your addiction on your life is important. When you go for drug and alcohol counselling, you should discuss these effects with your counsellor as well.
Is It Becoming More Difficult to Cut Back?
Chances are, you have been trying to cut back on your alcohol or drug use. If so, ask yourself:
- Have I ever successfully stopped using drugs or drinking on my own?
- Was I able to sustain my sobriety for at least a few weeks?
- What were my worst challenges during my fight for sobriety?
- Was there any improvements in my life when I stopped drinking or using drugs?
Sometimes, looking back at failed attempts to get sober can help you think more about what would actually help you. This is something you and your counsellor should discuss as well.
How Bad Is My Addiction?
Knowing that you are drinking too much or using too much drugs is not enough. You may not even realize that you have an addiction until you are too far in. If you are unsure of whether you have the beginning of a dependency or whether you have a full-blown addiction, ask yourself:
- Am I completely unable to stop using alcohol or drugs even when I want to?
- Do I experience withdrawal symptoms whenever I try to stop? Do I crave alcohol and drugs at inappropriate times?
- Do I suddenly need more alcohol or drugs to get high or drunk?
- Do I care more about getting drugs and alcohol into my system than I do about other responsibilities?
Be very open and honest with yourself when answering these questions. If any of these apply to you, seeking counselling and therapy immediately is crucial.
What Do I Want to Gain From Counselling?
Finally, when it is clear that you need drug and alcohol counselling, you must ask yourself what you hope to gain from counselling. Ask:
- Do I want to quit drugs or alcohol completely?
- Do I want to work on my mental health and become physically healthy?
- Do I want to rebuild my broken relationships with my loved ones?
- Do I want to take back control over my life and make better decisions?
Other Important Questions to Ask
You should also ask yourself whether you are ready to be honest with your counsellor. A counsellor can only help you if you are truthful about your addiction and your goals.
Moreover, you must ask and evaluate whether you have a support system. It is easier to recover and become sober with the help of loved ones.
You should also ask yourself whether you are ready to commit to rehabilitation, as this must happen in conjunction with your counselling.
HARP Is Here to Help
The HARP (Hills & Ranges Private) team understands how complex addiction can be. It takes courage and commitment to become sober and maintain sobriety.
If you choose to receive drug and alcohol counselling at HARP, you will receive your own individualized treatment plan. This plan will include counselling, therapy, evidence-based programs, and holistic healing.
Furthermore, you will begin healing in a discreet, comfortable facility with all the amenities.
If you are ready to get help, take the following quiz: Measure your level of addiction. Then, contact HARP to get on the road to recovery.
